LEBANON: Few residents still living in devastated southern suburb vow to stay on

Beirut's southern suburb, which has been pounded repeatedly by Israeli warplanes, was deserted on Wednesday (August 9, 2006), a day after several missiles hit the Hizbollah stronghold. Most buildings and apartment blocks in the area have been completely levelled in the air raids and most residents have fled. Some residents make quick trips home, darting in and out of the area to collect possessions. But the few who stayed behind say they will not abandon what is left of their neighbourhood despite the onslaught. Mohammed Sleim waters his plants on the balcony of his home which was struck by a missile when the fighting broke out four weeks ago. Describing his once populated neighbourhood as one big football pitch, Sleim says he will not leave even if the air raids continue. "The Dahiyah has been turned into a football pitch (due to the bombing). We are staying in the Dahiyah and we are not leaving. Whatever happens, we are not leaving. Even if they attack it more, we will not leave." Sleim sent his family to a shelter in Beirut following a night of heavy bombardment. He said they fled, leaving behind most of their belongings. "I have children but I sent them away. During the shelling they were in the shelter and after that I sent them away." More than 800,000 people have been displaced since the fighting began following the kidnap of two Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah guerillas. About 1,000 Lebanese have been killed in the four weeks of bloodshed, with many more feared trapped under the rubble. More than 100 Israelis have been killed in Hizbollah rockets The latest bombing of the Dahiyah comes a day after a missile strike killed 41 people in the Shiyyah district of Beirut's southern suburb.

ITN Source | August 10, 2006

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